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panopticon

American  
[pan-op-ti-kon] / pænˈɒp tɪˌkɒn /

noun

  1. a building, as a prison, hospital, library, or the like, so arranged that all parts of the interior are visible from a single point.


Etymology

Origin of panopticon

1760–70; pan- + Greek optikón sight, seeing (neuter of optikós; optic )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

We discuss the panopticon, the lack of walls and how it forces better boundaries.

From Los Angeles Times

Back then, Rodrigo’s experience as an actor in the durable “High School Musical” franchise — and, of course, as an inhabitant of the digital panopticon that is social media — gave her plenty to rue.

From Los Angeles Times

It was built in 1877 in the form of a panopticon, giving a central guardhouse a clear view to all corners of the "wheel".

From BBC

Taking the second verse of “Pass the Plugs,” Jolicoeur bemoans the industry panopticon of radio programmers, promoters and a record label that wanted more hit singles.

From New York Times

He denounced targeted advertising, the core of Google’s and Facebook’s business models, as “manipulative technology,” and he said that, unlike those companies, Stability AI would not build a “panopticon” that spied on its users.

From New York Times